WEBVTT
AN UNRELATED CASE.
KATH AN UNUSUAL OFFER TO
ANYONE WHO HAS A MUNICIPAL
WARRANT IN MILWAUKEE.
SOME JUDGES SAY THEY'LL TOSS IT
OUT IF YOU'LL DO JUST ONE THING.
WISN-12 NEWS KENT WAINSCOTT
EXPLAINS.
>> WE'RE YOUR FRIEND
NEIGHBORHOOD MUNICIPAL COURT
JUDGES.
>> IT CAME IN A FACEBOOK VIDEO
FROM MILWAUKEE'S THREE MUNICIPA
COURT JUDGES A FIRST OF IT'S
, KIND OFFER.
>> ANYONE WITH A CITY
MILWAUKEE MUNICIPAL COURT
WARRANT, DRIVERS LICENSE
SUSPENSION OR CAR REGISTRATION
, SUSPENSION CAN HAVE THOSE
WARRANTS AND SUSPENSIONS LIFTED
WITHOUT MAKING ANY PAYMENT
WHATSOEVER.
>> JUST SHOW IN COURT ON ANY OF
THE FIRST THREE WEDNESDAY'S IN
NOVEMBER, THEY SAY, AND THE
COURT WILL TOSS THE WARRANT AND
HELP GET BACK ON TRACK AND
THERE'S ONE MORE PROMISE.
>> NO ONE WILL BE ARRESTED.
>> IT'S NOT EXACTLY A GET-OUT-OF
JAIL FREE CARD.
PEOPLE WILL STILL BE RESPONSIBLE
FOR ANY FINES, BUT THE IDEA THEY
SAY IS TO GET PEOPLE FEARFUL OF
OUTSTANDING WARRANTS WORKING
WITH THE SYSTEM.
>> I THINK THEY'RE TRYING TO
MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN GET
THEMSELVES OUT OF THAT HOLE.
OBVIOUSLY I HOPE IT'S
SUCCESSFUL.
>> MAYOR TOM BARRETT SAYS IT WAS
THE ELECTED JUDGES WHO CAME UP
WITH THE PLAN.
THE JUDGES WERE IN A CITY BUDGET
HEARING TODAY AND DECLINED TO
COMMENT, BUT THE MAYOR SAYS ONE
QUESTION THAT REMAINS IS THE
FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THE PLAN.
>> THAT'S SOMETHING WE WANT TO
HAVE OUR BUDGET OFFICE INVOLVED
IN, TO SEE WHAT KIND OF FISCAL
IMPACT THIS WILL HAVE ON THE
CITY.
>> NO ONE IS SURE WHAT KIND OF
TURNOUT TO EXPECT, BUT SOURCES
INSIDE THE COURTS TELL US THEY
BELIEVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OFFER.
IN MILWAUKEE, I'M KENT
WAINSCOTT, WISN-12 NEWS.
KATHY: THE JUDGES' OFFER DOES

Anyone who has a municipal warrant out for himself or herself in Milwaukee is getting an unusual offer. Some judges say they’ll toss it out.
The city’s three municipal court judges, Derek Mosley, Valarie Hill and Phillip Chavez, made the first-of-its-kind offer in a Facebook video saying, "Anyone with a city of Milwaukee municipal court warrant, driver’s license suspension or car registration suspension can have those warrants and suspensions lifted without making any payment whatsoever."
The judges are telling anyone with an outstanding warrant or suspension to show up in municipal court on any of the first three Wednesdays in November, and the court will lift the warrant and "help get people back on the right track." They also said that no one will be arrested.
Individuals will still be responsible for any fines, but can have their warrants lifted without putting down any initial payment at the time and without fear of arrest. The idea, the judges said, is to get people who are fearful of coming forward due to outstanding warrants to begin working with the system.
The judges’ offer applies to most municipal citations, but does not include any zoning and building code violations. Those will still be heard on a case-by-case basis.
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said the elected judges came up with the plan.
"I think they’re trying to make sure that people can get themselves out of that hole," Barrett said. "Obviously, I hope it’s successful."
Barrett also said he is unsure of the financial impact of the plan, saying, "That’s something we want to have our budget office involved in, to see what kind of fiscal impact this will have on the city."

MILWAUKEE —

Anyone who has a municipal warrant out for himself or herself in Milwaukee is getting an unusual offer. Some judges say they’ll toss it out.

The city’s three municipal court judges, Derek Mosley, Valarie Hill and Phillip Chavez, made the first-of-its-kind offer in a Facebook video saying, "Anyone with a city of Milwaukee municipal court warrant, driver’s license suspension or car registration suspension can have those warrants and suspensions lifted without making any payment whatsoever."

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The judges are telling anyone with an outstanding warrant or suspension to show up in municipal court on any of the first three Wednesdays in November, and the court will lift the warrant and "help get people back on the right track." They also said that no one will be arrested.

Individuals will still be responsible for any fines, but can have their warrants lifted without putting down any initial payment at the time and without fear of arrest. The idea, the judges said, is to get people who are fearful of coming forward due to outstanding warrants to begin working with the system.

The judges’ offer applies to most municipal citations, but does not include any zoning and building code violations. Those will still be heard on a case-by-case basis.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said the elected judges came up with the plan.

"I think they’re trying to make sure that people can get themselves out of that hole," Barrett said. "Obviously, I hope it’s successful."

Barrett also said he is unsure of the financial impact of the plan, saying, "That’s something we want to have our budget office involved in, to see what kind of fiscal impact this will have on the city."